Introduction - SABONET

ii
Quick Guide
This book is divided into two sections: the first part provides descriptions of some common
trees and shrubs of Botswana, and the second is the complete checklist.
The scientific names of the families, genera, and species are arranged alphabetically.
Vernacular names are also arranged alphabetically, starting with Setswana and followed by
English. Setswana names are separated by a semi-colon from English names.
A glossary at the end of the book defines botanical terms used in the text.
Species that are listed in the Red Data List for Botswana are indicated by an ® preceding the
name.
The letters N, SW, and SE indicate the distribution of the species within Botswana according to
the Flora zambesiaca geographical regions.
Flora zambesiaca regions used in the checklist.
Administrative District FZ geographical region
Central District SE & N
Chobe District N
Ghanzi District SW
Kgalagadi District SW
Kgatleng District SE
Kweneng District SW & SE
Ngamiland District N
North East District N
South East District SE
Southern District SW & SE
NAMIBIA
NGAMILAND DISTRICT
GHANZI DISTRICT
KGALAGADI DISTRICT
CHOBE
DISTRICT
KWENENG DISTRICT
CENTRAL DISTRICT
DISTRICT
SOUTHERN
SOUTH EAST
DISTRICT
DISTRICT
0 Kilometres 400
ZIMBABWE
NORTH EAST
DISTRICT
KGATLENG
N
SOUTH AFRICA

Trees of Botswana:
names and distribution
Moffat P. Setshogo & Fanie Venter
iii

Recommended citation format
SETSHOGO, M.P. & VENTER, F. 2003. Trees of Botswana: names and distribution.
Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 18. Pretoria.
Produced by
University of Botswana Herbarium
Private Bag UB00704
Gaborone
Tel: (267) 355 2602
Fax: (267) 318 5097
E-mail: setshogo@mopipi.ub.bw
Published by
Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET),
c/o National Botanical Institute, Private Bag X101, 0001 Pretoria
and University of Botswana Herbarium, Private Bag UB00704, Gaborone.
Printed in 2003 in the Republic of South Africa by Capture Press, Pretoria, (27) 12 349-1802.
ISBN 1-919795-69-3
© 2003 SABONET. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means without the permission of the copyright holder. The University of Botswana Herbarium
(address above) would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this report as a
source.
Cover pictures: front cover: Hyphaene petersiana; Kigelia africana; Adansonia digitata; Aloe marlothii
var. marlothii; Acacia hebeclada subsp. chobiensis.
back cover: Bauhinia petersiana subsp. macrantha, flower; Sterculia rogersii, fruit; Terminalia prunioides,
fruit; Bauhinia petersiana subsp. macrantha; Sterculia rogersii, fruit.
Editor-in-chief: Marthina Mössmer. Scientific editor: Otto Leistner. Sub-editor: Lidia Gibson.
Cover design: Antoinette Burkhardt, Pretoria, South Africa (27) 82 909-0109.
Text design and layout: Antoinette Burkhardt.
SABONET web site: http://www.sabonet.org
This report is a joint product of the University of Botswana Herbarium and the Southern African Botanical
Diversity Network (SABONET) and was made possible through support provided by the Global Environment
Facility (GEF)/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID)/World Conservation Union-Regional Office for southern Africa (IUCN ROSA)
(Plot no. 14818 Lebatlane Road, Gaborone West, Extension 6 Gaborone, Botswana), under the terms of
Grant No. 690-0283-A-00-5950. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily
reflect the views of USAID, the GEF/UNDP, the SABONET Steering Committee or SABONET National
Working Groups.
iv

Trees of Botswana:
names and distribution
by
Moffat P. Setshogo & Fanie Venter
2003
Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 18
v

vi
University of Botswana Herbarium
Rev. Dr P.J. Mott established the University
of Botswana Herbarium in 1973 as part of the
University of Botswana, Lesotho, and
Swaziland (UBLS). In 1980, the herbarium was
registered and listed in the Index Herbariorum.
Two years later it became the Herbarium of
the University of Botswana (UCBG).
UCBG is a teaching and research facility administered
by the Department of Biological
Sciences. It serves students and staff members
who require assistance—mostly in plant
taxonomy. In addition, the herbarium offers assistance
to government institutions, non-governmental
organisations, other researchers, and
members of the public. The herbarium charges a
fee for commercial or private consultancy.
The Herbarium Plant Collection
The herbarium contains about 10,000 specimens
collected from different parts of Botswana,
and a few from neighbouring countries.
The collection is made up of carefully
collected, preserved, dried, mounted, and labelled
plant specimens. The collection is arranged
by family according to the Cronquist
Classification System. Most of the collections in
the herbarium are by J.M. Woollard and P.J. Mott.
Activities and Services
Some of the main activities and services provided
by UCBG are:
• Collecting and preserving plant specimens
from different regions of Botswana
•Encoding the herbarium specimens using the
PRECIS database
• Serving as a standard reference for identifying
newly collected plant specimens
• Serving as a reference collection for Plant
Taxonomy and other botanical courses provided
by the university, and trains students
in herbarium practices
•Providing information on plant diversity,
distribution, and promoting awareness in
plant conservation and utilization
•Providing information on plant vernacular
names
Funding
UCBG functions, activities, and equipment
are budgeted for under the Department of Biological
Sciences. It has, however, benefited
considerably from the SABONET project since
1997.
SABONET funding has made it possible to
purchase a computer and PRECIS Database
software, which is being used to encode and
keep a record of the specimens in the herbarium.
Projects
SABONET is assisting UCBG and GAB in the
compilation of the Poaceae Checklist (GAB),
the National Tree List (UCBG), and the National
Checklist (UCBG).
Additional projects include:
•A compilation of vernacular plant names
(in collaboration with the National Herbarium
(GAB), Sebele (MAH), and Peter
Smith Herbarium (PSUB))
•The Flora of Botswana project
• An inventory of useful indigenous plants of
Botswana
Literature
The library collection is mainly from donations
by SABONET, from other herbaria, and
research reports. Some books are on permanent
loan from the University of Botswana
library. UCBG is well equipped with a small
literature collection of about 1,000 books.
Contact address
The Curator
University of Botswana Herbarium
Private Bag UB00704, Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: (267) 355 2587
Fax: (267) 318 5097

Contents
Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. viii
Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1
Descriptions of some common trees of Botswana ......................................................... 4
Checklist of species ............................................................................................... 22
Colour plates ....................................................................................................... 71
Species possibly occurring in Botswana ................................................................... 130
Red Data Listed and protected tree species .............................................................. 132
Glossary ............................................................................................................. 133
References and further reading .............................................................................. 137
Index ................................................................................................................ 138
vii

viii
Acknowledgements
A number of people have contributed to make this list a reality. Special thanks are extended
to Hester Steyn (National Botanical Institute) who produced the distribution maps. This was an
onerous task, which she carried out diligently. Christopher Willis is remembered for the encouragement
and support at the beginning of the project. Lidia Gibson and Marthina Mössmer
edited the text, and Antoinette Burkhardt was responsible for the attractive layout of the
book. We also thank Dr Otto Leistner for scientific editing and Marietjie Steyn for making lastminute
drawings. We thank the SABONET Project and its Steering Committee for including this
publication in the SABONET Report Series and for providing us with financial support.

There are approximately 3 200 species of
flowering plants recorded for Botswana: no
comprehensive checklist exists for these. Similarly,
no checklist has been compiled for trees
at a national level. Information on tree species
of Botswana is scattered in various regional
publications (Coates Palgrave 2002, Van
Wyk & Van Wyk 1997, Van Wyk et al. 2000,
Van Rooyen 2001). Books by Ellery & Ellery
(1997) and Roodt (1998) consider a few common
trees and those of ethnobotanical importance
in the Okavango Delta. Timberlake
(1980) gives the only comprehensive account
of the genus Acacia in Botswana.
This book, therefore, represents the first
attempt at producing a national checklist of
tree species recorded for Botswana—it lists
approximately 440 species of indigenous trees.
It does not claim to be exhaustive, and will be
expanded as more data becomes available.
Definitions
The definitions of a tree and a shrub used
in this book follow Venter & Venter (1996): a
tree is any perennial woody plant growing to
a height of at least 2 m, while a shrub is less
than 2 m tall and mostly multi-stemmed.
Data collection
Data on the distribution of the species was
gathered during numerous field trips covering
literally the whole country. Information
was also gathered from herbarium specimens
Introduction
at the following herbaria: FHO, GAB, K, NH,
PRE, PSUB, SRGH, UCBG, UNIN, and WIND (herbarium
codes according to Holmgren et al.
1990; Smith & Willis 1999). Voucher specimens
for the different species are indicated
together with the herbaria housing them.
Arrangement of the list
The book is divided into two sections: the
first part provides descriptions of some common
trees and shrubs of Botswana, and the
second is the complete checklist.
Circumscription of families and genera follows
Leistner (2000). To ease reference, the
scientific names of the families, genera, and
species are arranged alphabetically. Similarly,
the vernacular names are also arranged alphabetically,
starting with the Setswana name(s)
and followed by the English ones. Setswana
names are separated by a semi-colon (;) from
the English names. Species that are listed in
the Red Data List for Botswana (Setshogo &
Hargreaves 2002) are indicated by an ® preceding
the name.
A distribution map and line drawing of the
leaves accompany every taxon in the list. The
maps were created in MAPPIT, based on PRECIS
data. Fanie Venter and Marietjie Steyn made the
leaf drawings.
A glossary at the end of the book defines
botanical terms used in the text.
1

Sources of vernacular names
Vernacular names in the list were obtained
in the following ways:
• Recorded during the field trips from local
informants.
• From lists published from a number of
other sources, for example, Campbell &
Hitchcock (1985) and Woollard
(1981, 1984). Literature was used extensively
for the English names.
• From herbarium specimens, which often
had Setswana names recorded
against them.
For Setswana names, no attempt was made
to indicate either the tribe (or dialect) or part
of the country where the name was in com-
Table 1. Flora zambesiaca regions cited in the checklist.
2
Administrative District FZ geographical region
Central District SE & N
Chobe District N
Ghanzi District SW
Kgalagadi District SW
Kgatleng District SE
Kweneng District SW & SE
Ngamiland District N
North East District N
South East District SE
Southern District SW & SE
mon use. More research is needed before this
can be done. An exception is with the San/
Sesarwa names of Acacia species, which are
listed according to Timberlake (1980).
Distribution of the species
The letters N, SW, and SE indicate the distribution
of the species within Botswana according
to the Flora zambesiaca (FZ) geographical
regions (Pope & Pope 1998). These
are explained in Table 1.
The maps show the division of Botswana
into administrative districts (Figure 1) and FZ
geographical regions (Figure 2). The distribution
maps for individual species are based on
herbarium collections.

NAMIBIA
KGALAGADI DISTRICT
NGAMILAND DISTRICT
GHANZI DISTRICT
CHOBE
DISTRICT
KWENENG DISTRICT
SOUTHERN
DISTRICT
CENTRAL DISTRICT
0 Kilometres 400
Figure 1: Administrative districts of Botswana.
SW
N
SE
SOUTH EAST
DISTRICT
ZIMBABWE
KGATLENG
DISTRICT
N
NORTH EAST
DISTRICT
SOUTH AFRICA
Figure 2: Flora zambesiaca geographical regions. (Source: Pope & Pope 1998)
3

Arecaceae
4
Descriptions of some common trees of Botswana
This section contains descriptions of a few common and useful species in the list. They are
arranged alphabetically by family, and alphabetically by genus and species within families.
A glossary at the end of the book defines botanical terms used in the text.
Monocotyledonae
ARECACEAE
Palm Family
Hyphaene petersiana Klotzsch ex Mart.
mokolane, mokolwane; northern ilala palm, real fan palm
A medium-sized palm tree with a single bare and straight
stem. The stem often has scars from where the old leaves have
fallen off. The leaves are fan-shaped, with long stalks having
recurved thorns. The male and female flowers are on separate
individuals. The fruit is characteristically brown to reddish brown.
The plant is defoliated to expose the stem and the sap is
collected from these stems. It is then distilled into an alcoholic
beverage called muchame. The use of the palm this way, however,
is worrisome, since it destroys the whole plant. This is a
very difficult species to propagate and is a slow grower.
The nuts are eaten raw. The leaves
are used to make baskets: the species
is one of the major species supporting
the basket industry in the
Okavango Delta.
H. petersiana occurs in sizeable numbers in the area stretching
from Nata village, westward to the Okavango Delta, where it
occurs mostly on seasonally flooded areas. It is thought to be
an indicator of saline soils.
Dicotyledonae
ANACARDIACEAE
Mango family
Rhus lancea L.f.
moshabela, mosilabele, motshotiso, motshotlho, nsasane, nseseni; bastard
willow, karee, karoo tree, willow rhus
actual size: 1300 mm

This is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree normally occurring
in varying habitats. It has a characteristic rough dark
brown bark. Leaves of the species have differently coloured surfaces;
they are dark green above and paler green below. The
leaves give out a characteristic aromatic smell when crushed.
The fruit is a small, edible, flattened, dull yellow to brown drupe.
The fruit can be pounded with water and allowed to ferment
to make a good beer (Van Wyk & Van Wyk 1997). The wood is
hard, tough, and durable. It is valuable as fencing posts and is
used to make handles for some implements. The bark
of R. lancea is also used for tanning. The tree can be
cultivated as a garden ornamental.
This tree can be confused with Rhus leptodictya, actual size: 102 mm
from which it is separated by the nature of the leaves.
The margins of the leaflets are entire in R. lancea and toothed
in R. leptodictya (see description of R. leptodictya below).
Rhus leptodictya Diels
lehata-la-basimane, mogogobadimo, motshotlho, motshotlwane, nsasane;
mountain karee, rock rhus
This is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree with somewhat
drooping branches. The trifoliate leaves have leaflets
with toothed margins, join the leaf petiole at the
same point and are almost at right angles to each
other. The fruits are small, edible, flattened,
orange-red drupes.
Intoxicating liquor can be made
from the fruit (Roodt 1998).
actual size: 104 mm
Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst. subsp. caffra
(Sond.) Kokwaro
morula, morwa, ntala, nthula; cider tree, marula tree
A medium to large deciduous tree with an erect trunk and a
spreading, rounded crown; dioecious. Leaves are crowded near
the ends of branches. Fruit is yellow when ripe, with a very
juicy mesocarp.
The most valuable asset of this tree is its fruit; therefore the
tree is often conserved, even in cultivated lands.
Marula fruits are rich in vitamin C and can be eaten
ripe, but are popularly used to brew beer. A good
jelly can be made from the pulp. The
wood of S. birrea does not crack easily,
hence it is used to make pestles
for stamping grain. It is also suitable for drums, bowls,
plates, and spoons. Seed kernels are rich in oil and
Anacardiaceae
actual size: 294 mm
5

Bombacaceae
protein. The bark is traditionally used for treating malaria.
It is believed that a pregnant woman can influence the sex of
the unborn child by drinking an infusion of the bark from either
a male or a female tree.
It occurs throughout the eastern, southeastern, and northern
parts of the country, often growing at very low population
densities per unit area.
6
BOMBACACEAE
Baobab family
Adansonia digitata L.
dovuyu, ibozu, mbuyu, moana, mobuyu, mowana; Africa’s upside-down
tree, baobab
This tree is sometimes referred to as Africa’s upside-down
tree (when leafless, the branches have the appearance of roots).
It has a hugely swollen trunk. The fruit is large (up to 12 cm
long), with a hard woody shell, and is covered by yellowish
grey, velvety hairs on the outside. The seeds inside the fruit are
embedded in a whitish powdery pulp.
The leaves contain tannin in addition to
mucilage, which is effective for the treatment
of diarrhoea (Roodt 1998). The bark is used
for making mats. The toxin in
the latex of this plant includes
a cardiac glucoside, strophanthin,
which slows the heartbeat (Roodt 1998).
Certain superstitious beliefs are associated
with this species. Evil spirits will visit any
person who plucks the flowers of the plant.
It is also said that drinking water in which
parts of the plant have been soaked provides
protection against crocodiles.
CAPPARACEAE
Caper family
Boscia albitrunca (Burch.) Gilg & Benedict var.
albitrunca
makgolela, mareko, monomane, motlopi, ntopi; caper bush, shepherds’ tree
The trunk of this species is characteristically whitish
(albitrunca). The leaves are clustered or fascicled on the branches.
The fruits ripen to yellow, with a sweet, slimy pulp and a smooth
actual size: 302 mm

skin. A delicious drink is prepared blending the fruits with milk.
Coates Palgrave (2002) refers to this species as ‘a tree of life’
because of the various uses it has to humans, livestock, and
wild animals. The leaves provide nourishing fodder for game
and livestock. A cold infusion of the leaf is used as a lotion for
inflamed eyes of cattle. The wood is tough and durable; it is
used to make household utensils such as spoons and bowls. A
decoction of the root is said to be effective in the treatment of
haemorrhoids (Roodt 1998). Birds, baboons, monkeys,
elephants, as well as humans, eat the fruit.
It is believed that if the wood of the species is burned,
only male calves will be produced. It is also said that if the
fruit withers before the sorghum crop harvest, the crop will fail.
COMBRETACEAE
Combretum family
Combretum hereroense Schinz
mokabi, mokata, mongare, monwana, mungave, nswazwi; mouse-eared
combretum, russet bushwillow
A small tree, 3–5 m in height. A characteristic feature of this
species is its typical four-winged Combretum fruit (samara).
However, this fruit is smaller than that of similar-sized
combretums. It is rich dark reddish brown from an early age,
becoming rich brown with golden-edged wings. The fruits remain
on the tree for a long time.
An infusion of the roots is used for stomach disorders (Roodt
1998). Like all other combretums, the wood is very hard, tough
and durable and it provides excellent firewood. It is termite and
borer proof. Most browsers eat the leaves and small twigs of C.
hereroense.
Combretum imberbe Wawra
kavimba, madikolo, mbgweti, monyondo, motswere, motswiri, movimba;
bastard yellow wood, elephant trunk, ivory tree, leadwood
This tree has a characteristic pale grey bark that cracks into
rectangular flakes. Mature trees often have dead, bare branches
and twigs. The grey-green foliage gives it a characteristic tinge
throughout the year. The species flowers in October.
According to Coates Palgrave (2002), a cough mixture can be
prepared from the flowers.
C. imberbe grows very slowly, forming exceptionally hard wood.
Prior to the advent of iron implements, hoes were made of the
timber and in the past it was used for railway sleepers, fencing
posts, and mine props. The wood is very good fuel and is also
actual size: 75 mm
Combretaceae
actual size: 43 mm
7

Ebenaceae
used to make grain mortars. The fruits make beautiful
necklaces. Browsers eat the leaves and young twigs.
The Herero worship this tree as an ancestor
of all animals and people.
Combretum molle R.Br. ex G.Don
modubatshipi, mohudiri-wa-lentswe, molatswe; velvet bushwillow, velvetleaved
combretum
A small to medium-sized tree up to 10 m in height. The bark
is grey, grey-brown to almost black, rough and fissured, and
inclined to be flaky. Leaves are opposite and the apex tapers;
the base is rounded to shallowly lobed and margins are entire.
Flowers are greenish and heavily scented, attracting insects;
they appear in September/October. The fruit is yellowish green
flushed with red, drying to golden reddish brown.
According to Roodt (1998), fresh or dry leaves of the species
are used for dressing wounds. The leaf and the root are also
believed to be an antidote for snakebite, while the root alone is
used to treat both abortion and constipation. A feverish child
is bathed in a decoction of the dried leaves to reduce its temperature,
while an infusion of the inner bark is taken orally or
as an enema to relieve various stomach complaints. The wood
is hard and yellow; it is suitable for implement handles and
fencing posts and is said to be reasonably termite-proof.
8
EBENACEAE
Ebony family
Diospyros lycioides Desf. sensu lato
letlhaja, letlhajwa, molootsameno, motlhaja, nshangule; bluebush, hairy
bluebush, Kalahari star-apple, red star-apple, Transvaal bluebush, velvet
bluebush
This plant occurs as a shrub in most parts of Botswana. The
leaves are clustered towards the ends of branches. The plants
are dioecious. The fruit is a berry, orange-red to dark red when
ripe, usually with a persistent calyx.
The bark is sometimes used for tanning. The root of this shrub
is an excellent substitute for toothpaste.
Euclea undulata Thunb. subsp. myrtina (Burch.)
Hiern
mokwelekwele, moshitondo, mosokola, motlhakola, motlhakolana,
motlhakolane, motlhakolwana, motlhakolwane, motokola, nshangule-ntukunu;
common guarri, fire-fighter’s blessing, small-leaved guarri, thicket euclea
actual size: 84 mm
actual size: 80 mm
actual size: 36 mm
actual size: 29 mm

This is a shrub with characteristic undulate leaves (with wavy
margins). It has berry-like fruits of about 5 mm in diameter,
which are initially brownish red, turning black at maturity.
The roots are used medicinally for heart diseases, headaches,
and toothaches (Van Wyk & Van Wyk 1997).
EUPHORBIACEAE
Euphorbia family
Bridelia mollis Hutch.
mokokokwena, mokokonane, mokokonyana, mokokwane, mokokwele,
mokokwenana, mokokwenane, mokomanawe, mokopakopa, mokopokopo,
mokororo, mongwanengebe, nkumbakumba; velvet bridelia, velvet
sweetberry
A small shrub common on rock outcrops and hills. It has
characteristic velvety leaves (mollis). It produces a spherical
edible fruit, green when immature, and turning black when
mature.
The wood is apparently not used for fuel because of a superstitious
belief that its use might result in cows never
bearing calves. The wood is, however, good for making
implements, house timbers, and fences. The leaves are
boiled and the solution rubbed on the body.
Croton gratissimus Burch. var. gratissimus
mhakwana, mmakwana, moologa, ngala-dombo, umumbango; lavender
croton, lavender fever-berry
This is a multi-stemmed tree of rocky places. Leaves are dark
green above and silvery on the lower surface, dotted with many
brown scales. There are two small glands where the stalk joins
the leaf. Flowers are small and rather inconspicuous; they appear
in October. The fruit is a small, three-lobed capsule.
The leaves and bark are used medicinally. The tree is also
very popular with boys who use its Y-shaped branches for making
catapults. The slender stems of the species are used in
the roofs of traditional huts.
This species is generally characteristic of hills in southern
Botswana.
Schinziophyton rautanenii (Schinz) Radcl.-Sm.
mokongwa, mongongo, mungongo; featherweight tree, manketti nut,
manketti tree, mongongo nut
actual size: 93 mm
actual size: 88 mm
Euphorbiaceae
9

Fabaceae
This species has a nutritious and well-known fruit. It is about
35 mm long and 25 mm broad, eggshaped,
fleshy with a hard seed or nut,
which is extremely hard to crack. The
kernels are yellowish-white, either
eaten raw or roasted,
and taste like cashew actual size: 143 mm
nuts. The nut is
pounded and cooked
with a variety of vegetables
(Story 1958).
It is distributed in
northern Botswana.
Spirostachys africana Sond.
morekhure, morukuru; African mahogany tree, African sandalwood, jumping
bean tree, tamboti
This tree is valued for its straight, upright, single bare trunk,
which makes it amenable to many uses. The bark is characteristically
dark to black and neatly cracked into regular rectangles.
The plant produces a milky latex when its branches are injured.
The species flowers in October.
S. africana occurs in the eastern hardveld of Botswana. The
wood is used to make splendid furniture. It provides hut poles
and rafters and is also used for making sledges.
10
FABACEAE
Pod-bearing family
Acacia species
actual size: 59 mm
These are typical thorn bushes and thorn trees comprising a major part of the vegetation of
Botswana. All acacias have bipinnate leaves, pairs of straight or hooked thorns, and flattened
pods. Thorns and details of leaves are most important in separating species of this difficult
genus. Flowers are fluffy, occurring in inflorescences of two types, a long spike and a round
ball. All acacias are deciduous.
Acacia erubescens Welw. ex Oliv.
g//are (G//ana), moloto, murengambo, n!ã (!Kung), omungongomwi; blue
thorn
A small tree or bush. It has 4–6 pairs of pinnae of 10–15 pairs
of leaflets. Leaflets are relatively small and it has vicious, hooked
thorns. The bark of A. erubescens is pale, even cream, and sometimes
flaking. The pods are pale-brown, thin, flat, and horizontally
veined. This species can be confused with A. fleckii, but

the latter flowers later, has many more pinnae, has small leaflets,
and has a shorter leaf stalk (see description of A. fleckii
below). The species flowers in October.
Livestock may browse leaves and pods. The bark is used for
making rope used in thatching. The wood is
used for firewood and fence posts.
Acacia fleckii Schinz
/kane, gare (G//ana), mfafu, mhahu, mohahu, mokoka, mokoko,
mokokwane, mukona, n≠ahli (!Xõ), n≠eng (!Kung), omutaurambuku; blade
thorn
A tree or bush, with 6–15 pairs of pinnae of 10–30 pairs of
densely crowded leaflets. Leaflets are grey-green, small and hairy.
A. fleckii has a prominent gland near the base of the stalk and
vicious, hooked thorns. Young twigs of A. fleckii are pale grey
and slightly zigzag. Bark on the trunk is pale to cream, flaking.
Pods are pale, brown, broad, thin, often slightly curled up and
horizontally veined.
Leaves are browsed by animals. The wood
is used for firewood.
Acacia karroo Hayne
butema, gaba, mokha, mooka, mookana, mookane, orusu; gum Arabic tree,
karoo thorn, mimosa thorn, sour thorn, sweet thorn, thorn tree, white thorn
The characteristic features of this species include the following:
a dark and rough bark; striking, long, paired, white thorns;
yellow, sweet-smelling, ball-like flowers producing copious
amounts of nectar. Sometimes called the ‘bee tree’ because bees
in search of nectar visit it. It is one of the last acacias to flower
in spring. The trees exposed to browsing by animals tend to be
thornier, usually on lower branches where
the animals can reach easily. The pods are
sickle-shaped and dehisce by splitting
lengthwise in the middle.
This is a good fodder tree, browsed by
cattle and goats. The bark can be used for
tanning leather.
Acacia mellifera (Vahl) Benth. subsp. detinens
(Burch.) Brenan
!gou (!Kung), //ha (!Xõ, Nharo), //kowa, //wa (G//ana), mongana, monka,
more-o-mabele, mukona, nkoshwana, omusaona, ungandu; black thorn,
hook thorn, wait-a-bit thorn
This tree often bushes in large thickets. This species has 2–4
pairs of pinnae and rarely possesses more than one pair of large
leaflets. It also has many hooked thorns. Flowers of A. mellifera
are sweet-smelling white balls, appearing just before or with
the leaves. Pods are short, broad, papery, pale brown, and hori-
actual size: 80 mm (pod)
actual size: 80 mm (pod)
actual size: 80 mm (pod)
Fabaceae
11

Fabaceae
zontally veined. The fruits appear in October.
This species can be confused with A. nigrescens (see description
of A. nigrescens below) from which it is distinguished by
the absence of knobs on stems and branches.
A. mellifera is one of the most valuable fodder trees and is
highly sought-after by game and livestock. It contains a high
percentage of raw protein and is thus often ground up to feed
game and livestock. It is used traditionally as medicine. For
instance, roots can be used to relieve stomach complaints. It
is often thought undesirable in the range
when it encroaches on overgrazed areas. It
is also an indicator of calcium-rich soils.
Acacia nigrescens Oliv.
goshwe, mokoba, more-o-mabele, mughandutji, mwanduchi, nkogo, yi
(!Kung); knob-thorn
This is usually a tree of up to 30 m in height. Its characteristic
feature is the scattered, irregularly shaped knobs on the
trunk and large branches. The leaflets are uncharacteristically
large for an Acacia (up to 30 mm long by 20 mm wide), normally
two pairs of pinnae per leaf.
It can be confused with A. mellifera, from which it is distinguished
by the leaflets and the knobs on the trunk and branches.
Both A. mellifera and A. nigrescens are good barrier plants because
of their vicious, hooked thorns, hence they are usually
used in kraal and homestead fences.
The tree is extremely fire resistant and is
therefore an excellent firewood. The leaves are
eaten eagerly by browsers.
Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne subsp. heteracantha
(Burch.) Brenan
/gali (!Kung), mojwa, mokhu, morwane, moshaoka, moshu, mosu,
mosunyana, mudjwa, nsu, orusu-orupunguya; curly-pod acacia, umbrella
thorn
This is a deciduous tree and usually not more than 10 m
high. In northern Botswana (Moremi Game Reserve) some trees
reach 20 m. The well known, conspicuous umbrella-shaped crown
only develops fully in old specimens; young trees have roundish
or flat-topped crowns. The stem is usually fairly short and the
main branches are bare. Old bark is dark grey to black, longitudinally
fissured and ridged. The sharp spines of A. tortilis are
unique: some are short, blackish and hooked, while others are
long, white and straight. The spines occur in pairs, mostly two
of the same kind together, but sometimes mixed (thus a hooked
and a straight spine together). The bipinnately compound leaves
are probably the smallest among the thorn trees. The same ap-
12
actual size: 66 mm (pod)
actual size: 66 mm (pod)

plies to the leaflets, which are minute (1.5 x 0.5 mm). The fruit
consists of characteristic, pale brown pods, which are always
spirally contorted and sometimes intertwined with each other.
The wood is used as fuel. The pods are highly valued,
showing contents of 18.83% protein, 2.44%
fat, 46.25% carbohydrates, 5.1% minerals, and
20.1% fibre (Roodt 1998). They are browsed by
game and are also collected by farmers for feeding
small stock. The tree is common on abandoned
and old ploughed fields, and is an encroacher
on heavily eroded lands.
Burkea africana Hook.
kudumela, monato, mosheshe, nkalati, ohehe; burkea, red syringa,
Rhodesian ash, wild syringa
This tree has a dark grey, rough and flaking bark. The leaves
are crowded at the ends of branchlets. The fruit is a
thin, flat, single-seeded, indehiscent pod,
often persistent for months.
The timber has been used for
wagons and furniture. The
pounded bark and fruit are
used as a fish poison. The
bark and fruit are also used
for tanning (Roodt 1998).
Colophospermum mopane (Kirk ex Benth.) Kirk ex
J.Léonard
mophane, mpani; balsam tree, black ironwood, butterfly tree, mopane
The species has a characteristic butterfly leaf. The fruit is a
kidney-shaped pod, covered in oil glands.
The southernmost distribution of the species in Botswana is
just north of Radisele village. It usually dominates wherever it
occurs, forming a distinct vegetation type called ‘Mopane woodland’.
It is regarded as an indicator of shallow, poorly drained,
often alkaline, soils. It is slow-growing outside its distribution
range.
C. mopane is the most sought-after building material in Botswana,
as it is almost completely termite-resistant and the
straight growth form of the young specimens lends itself to
utilisation for this purpose. It is also ideal for fencing poles
and wagon shafts. C. mopane is also a host for the commonly
harvested phane worm in Botswana.
It is thought that mopane trees attract lightning.
actual size: 27 mm (pod)
actual size: 432 mm
actual size: 160 mm
Fabaceae
13

Fabaceae
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. sensu lato
moselesele, mpangale; hairy sickle bush, Kalahari Christmas tree, largeleaved
sickle bush, sickle bush, velvet sickle bush
This species is deciduous and grows as a spiny bush, often
forming thickets. It can have 4–13 pairs of pinnae with 10–25
pairs of small, crowded leaflets. Leaves grow from short spinetipped
side twigs. The flowers are distinctive dropping tassels,
with upper part mauve to pink, and lower part narrower and
yellow. The thin, twisted pods grow in a tangled mass. Although
the leaves of D. cinerea are like those of an Acacia, the absence
of paired thorns or spines easily distinguishes this bush.
There is a strong similarity of medicinal application throughout
Africa, even in the most remote regions, for example, treatment
for snake-bite, which is prepared by chewing the leaf well
and then applying it to the lesion by binding it with strips from
the inner bark (Roodt 1998). D. cinerea is said to be an excellent
cure for toothache and it is also considered a remedy for
abdominal pains, pneumonia, internal abscesses, dysentery,
gonorrhoea, worms, and maladies of the urinary tract, suggesting
that the tree may have some antibiotic properties (Roodt
1998). By inhaling the smoke of the dried leaves and root, chest
complaints and a blocked nose can be relieved. Dried seed pods
soaked in hot water make a soothing eyewash (Roodt 1998). An
extract of the leaves mixed with salt is even more effective for
this purpose.
The wood is used for making fence poles and is good fuel. The
timber is termite-resistant and so durable that it was once
used instead of iron posts, since it withstands even veld-fires.
The inner bark is tough and pliable and makes strong rope
and string. The whole plant has a high nutrition value and
the leaves and pods are eaten by livestock and wildlife.
Elephantorrhiza burkei Benth.
mbola, mosetlha-o-monnye, mosidi, mosidigodimo, mositsane; sumach
bean, sumach elephant root
This species is deciduous and it is a sparsely foliaged bush or
small tree, usually growing on rocky hills. Leaves are large, with
5 or 6 pairs of pinnae of 10–25 pairs of leaflets,
spaced out. Leaflets are largish, oblong to ovate,
with a pointed apex. E. burkei has no thorns,
and a large, broad, flat woody pod. When mature,
most parts of the pod fall away
or roll up leaving just the rims. The
species flowers in October. The large
size of the leaf and the absence of any thorns
distinguish this species from acacias.
14
actual size: 216 mm
actual size: 2 mm

It is often used in leather tanning, but is not as popular as E.
elephantina.
Peltophorum africanum Sond.
mosetlha, mosiru, moyeri, moyethu, moyevu, nzeze, setimamollo; African
wattle, weeping wattle
In summer, the abundant, pea-like, yellow flowers amongst
the large, feathery leaves are characteristic. The tree has striking,
dull green, large, Acacia-like, soft, feathery leaves. It
branches low down from a trunk that is often crooked, to form
a spreading, irregular and untidy crown. The flowers appear
in November. It produces dark brown to black pods
that remain on the tree for most of the year.
The wood produces a smooth finish and seems promising
for furniture use. It has also been used for
wooden buckets, grinding blocks and even
wagons in the past. Steam from a hot decoction
is used to relieve sore eyes and the bark is usually
chewed to treat abdominal pains (Roodt 1998).
actual size: 230 mm
MALVACEAE
Hibiscus family
Azanza garckeana (F.Hoffm.) Exell & Hillc.
moroja, morojwa, ntobgwe; azanza, chewing gum tree, snot apple
An evergreen shrub to medium-sized tree. Branchlets
have woolly hairs. Leaves are 3–5-lobed, with rough,
stellate (star-shaped) hairs on the upper surface,
and soft hairs on the lower surface. Flowers
are solitary, yellow, with a maroon
patch in the centre. The fruit is a
yellowish green to brown, five-lobed
woody capsule, and is edible.
The species is northern in distribution and its
occurrence in the south is probably due to introductions.
MORACEAE
Fig family
Ficus abutilifolia (Miq.) Miq.
mhawa, mohawa, mokoyo, momelantsweng, mpawa, ntulukuse; largeleaved
rock fig
actual size: 332 mm
Malvaceae
15

Olacaceae
The species has the following characteristics:
roots that grow over rocks
(‘rock splitters’); a whitish grey
trunk; large, roundly heart-shaped
leaves with prominent veins. The
species flowers
in August/
September,
and the fruits appear in October.
The figs are edible, even though
nearly always infested with insects.
This is a common tree on hills.
16
OLACACEAE
Sourplum family
Ximenia americana L. sensu lato
chibitswa, moretologana, moretologa-wa-pudi, moretonoga, moretonoha,
motsididi, nswanja-bakhwa, seretologa; blue sourplum, small sourplum
This is a much-branched shrub or small tree with a bluegreen
appearance. Leaves occur in axils of straight spines or are
clustered on short side branches, folding inwards along the main
vein. The plants are dioecious. The species flowers in November.
Fruits are yellowish red and fleshy.
The fruit is sour, but edible, and is often used to make beer.
The leaf, which contains tannin and resins, is used as a remedy
for cough, fever, and wounds. The oily kernel is used for softening
leather, as a cosmetic, and for making torches (Roodt 1998).
The species can be confused with X. caffra, which has dark
green leaves.
Ximenia caffra Sond. sensu lato
moretologa, moretologa-wa-kgomo, moretonoga, morokolo, motsidi,
mwombe, nswanja-ngombe; hairy large sourplum, large sourplum, monkey
plum
This is a sparsely-branched shrub or small tree. Leaves are
clustered on short side branches, are dark green in colour and
fold inwards along the main vein. The plants are dioecious. The
fruits are bright red, smooth and fleshy when ripe, and are
edible.
The species can be confused with X. americana, which has
waxy, blue-green leaves. Both species are fairly widespread in
Botswana.
actual size: 286 mm
actual size: 48 mm
actual size: 68 mm

RHAMNACEAE
Dogwood family
Ziziphus mucronata Willd. subsp. mucronata
mabyana-a-mala-a-tupa, moketekete, mokgalo, monganga, nchecheni;
buffalo thorn, shiny leaf, wait-a-bit
This is a shrub to a medium-sized tree. Young branches bend
at the nodes, giving them a zigzag appearance. The leaves are
shiny green. Paired thorns are present at the base of the leaf
stalk; one is curved while the other is straight. The species
flowers in October/November. The fruit is round, berry-like, shiny
reddish to yellowish brown.
A decoction of the roots is commonly administered as a painkiller.
An infusion of the bark and leaves is used for chest complaints
(Roodt 1998). Pastes of the root and leaves can be applied
to treat boils and swollen glands. The leaves are an important
source of fodder for stock, and all browsers feed on the
tree. Impala often feed on the dead leaves lying under trees.
The elasticity of the wood makes it suitable for bows and, especially,
hammer handles. Ox yokes are cut from larger trees, while
saplings and coppice shoots make whip sticks. As with most
fruits, a beer can be made if fruit is allowed to ferment. The tree
is a good indicator of the presence of underground water.
In Botswana, this tree is considered immune to lightning, so
any person sheltering under it is thought to be safe. It is also
believed that if it is felled after the first rains, a drought will
certainly ensue.
RUBIACEAE
Coffee family
Vangueria infausta Burch. subsp. infausta
mmilo, monyonyana, mothwane, nzwigwa; wild medlar
This is a shrub to small tree, occurring mostly on rocky places
and hills throughout Botswana. Its stems have prominent triangular
stipules between each pair of leaves. It has boat-like
leaves bent backwards in a sickle shape. Small gall-like growths
may be noticed on the leaf surfaces. These are caused by a
species of fungus, which often attacks these trees. V. infausta
flowers in late October. It has roundish fruit, which can be up
to 40 mm in diameter, with a glossy brown skin when ripe.
actual size: 63 mm
Rhamnaceae
17

Sapindaceae
The fruit is edible and contains a high level of vitamin C.
Roots are used medicinally to treat malaria.
It is considered unlucky to use the wood of
this species, hence the specific epithet,
infausta, which means unlucky. The wood is
never used, not even as fuel.
18
SAPINDACEAE
Litchi family
Pappea capensis Eckl. & Zeyh.
molalakgaka, mopanyobojalwa, mopenoene, mopenwaeng, mothata,
ntorido; indaba tree, jacket plum, wild cherry
Over most of its range the Jacket Plum is a small tree (7 m)
but it can reach a height of 12 m. It is semi-deciduous and has
a short trunk and a fairly dense, spreading crown. The leaves
are usually crowded at the ends of the branches. They are simple,
variable in size, hard and rough and the margins may be
entire or finely spine-toothed. The outstanding characteristic
feature of the tree is its fruit—these are softly hairy, green,
round berries, about 15 mm in diameter. During some seasons
the berries occur in masses. When ripe, the pericarp splits in
two to reveal the bright red, fleshy, shining false aril, which
envelops the black seed. This fleshy part is delicious and is
enjoyed by people and animals. It is also used to make jelly and
to brew an alcoholic beverage and vinegar.
The wood has a fine grain and is quite heavy, hard and pale
brown with a reddish tinge. The quality is good enough for it
to be used for various purposes, but large pieces are
rare. The leaves provide valuable browsing for
game and stock. The seed can provide fairly heavy
oil that is edible as suggested by Roodt (1998); it is
claimed that farmers oil their guns with this oil.
SAPOTACEAE
Milkwood family
actual size: 119 mm
actual size: 74 mm
Englerophytum magalismontanum
(Sond.) T.D.Penn.
motlhatswa; red milkwood, stemfruit, Transvaal milkplum,
wild plum actual size: 79 mm

The fruits are plum-like, ovoid, about 20 mm in diameter, red
when ripe, sweet and deliciously flavoured. They have a high
vitamin C content. They are used for making syrup, brandy, and
wine. This is a species occurring mostly on hills in southeastern
Botswana.
Mimusops zeyheri Sond.
mmopudu, mmupudu, mobu, mosamtuza, mupudu; common red
milkwood, Transvaal red milkwood
This is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree. The parts
exude a milky latex when injured. All young parts have dense
reddish brown hairs. The leaves are glossy dark green and leathery.
The flowers are star-shaped, white and scented, and appear
in October. The fruit is oval, fleshy, orange, with a persistent
style attached to it.
The fruit is edible, eaten by both humans and animals. A
juice is prepared from the fruit and can be used fresh or fermented.
The fruit is commonly sold in local markets in November
and December.
STRYCHNACEAE
Wild Elder family
Strychnos cocculoides Baker
mogorogoro, mogorogorwana, mogorogorwane, mohoruhoru, moruda,
nhume; corky-bark monkey orange
The fruit is large, spherical, about 80 mm in diameter, and
yellowish when ripe. The juicy pulp is refreshing and has a
delectable flavour when eaten fresh or crushed to make a fermented
juice. It has a patchy distribution in the southeast, to
the eastern and northern parts of the country.
actual size: 48 mm
Strychnos spinosa Lam.
maume, mogorogoro, mogororo, moyimbili; elephant orange, green monkey
orange, monkey ball, spiny monkey orange
The fruits are bigger than those of S. cocculoides (about 120
mm in diameter), spherical, deep yellow to yellow-brown in
colour and fleshy. The pulp is sweet and has a delicate flavour.
actual size: 73 mm
actual size: 55 mm
Strychnaceae
19

Tiliaceae
20
TILIACEAE
Jute family
Grewia bicolor Juss.
kukuruthwe, mambalane, mogwana, monabo, motuu, ntewa; bastard
brandybush, false brandybush
This is mostly a multi-stemmed shrub. The bark is dark grey,
deeply fissured, and peels away in old specimens. Leaves are a
dark, dull green above and almost silvery-white below (hence
bicolor). The fruit is a drupe, one- or two-lobed, reddish brown
to purple black.
Although slightly sour, the fruit is eaten by humans when
ripe or is dried for later use. It is also one of the ingredients for
making traditional khadi brew. Fibre obtained from the inner
bark is used for making ropes and baskets.
Grewia flava DC.
maphokwe, monabo, moreswe, moretlwa, moseme, ntewa, phomphokwe;
brandybush, raisin tree, velvet raisin, wild currant, wild plum
This is a multi-stemmed shrub. It has greyish green leaves.
The species flowers in October. The fruit is usually two-lobed.
The fruit has a high sugar content and although not very
fleshy, is eaten fresh or dried. The fruit, like that of G. bicolor,
is also one of the ingredients of a traditional brew, khadi. The
bark provides a fibre from which baskets are woven and the
frayed ends of the branchlets are used as toothbrushes. The
foliage is browsed by livestock and game, particularly during
the dry season when other food is scarce.
Branches of G. flava are used to make baskets; very thin
branches are used to make brooms. The inner bark is used to
weave baskets. Pegs made from the wood of this species are put
upright onto the roofs or driven into the ground to ward off
lightning. According to Roodt (1998), it is also used in death
rites by the Bakgalagadi tribe, where a piece of the inner bark is
tied to the right arm of the dead man to ensure a type of spiritual
bond with his children. The same is done to each of his
children in sequence from the oldest to the youngest.
Grewia flavescens Juss. sensu lato
mokankele, motsotsojana, motsotsojane, mpuzu; donkey berry, river roughleaved
raisin bush, rough-leaved raisin bush, sandpaper raisin
This is a scrambling multi-stemmed shrub. Older stems are
characteristically four-angled (rectangular). Leaves are covered
with harsh hairs (hence giving the feel of sandpaper) and have
actual size: 39 mm
actual size: 54 mm

irregularly toothed margins. The fruit is 2–4-lobed and yellowish
brown when ripe.
The leaves are browsed by game and livestock. The wood is
very tough and is commonly used to make walking sticks and
bows.
Grewia retinervis Burret
mokankele, mokgomphatha, mopundu, mpuzu; arib, false sandpaper raisin,
Kalahari sand raisin bush, rough-leaved raisin bush
This is a shrub to small, bushy tree. The bark is brownish.
Older branches tend to have grooves on two sides. The edible
fruit is always single, spherical and is orange-red to reddish
brown when ripe.
The berries are a favourite with humans and can be eaten
either raw or dried. An alcoholic beverage can be prepared from
the fruit because of the high sugar content. The angular stems
are used for spear shafts.
Grewia species are fairly well distributed throughout Botswana.
actual size: 63 mm
actual size: 46 mm
Tiliaceae
21